On Monday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis abolished Walt Disney World’s self-governing power, placing Walt Disney Co. under control of the state board. For over half a century, the company was allowed to operate with a high degree of autonomy.
“The State of Florida is the new sheriff in town,” DeSantis said during a press event held at a firehouse, minutes away from Disney World.
The bill, HB 9B, re-directs the Reedy Creek Improvement district, where Disney World resides, to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. The oversight district will only be able to have term-limited members who are not recent employees or have been contracted by Disney in the last three years.
During his press event, DeSantis announced the five names of the new board members that will have their first meeting next week.
“Since the 1960s, they’ve enjoyed privileges unlike any company or individual in the state of Florida has ever enjoyed,” DeSantis said. “They had exemptions from laws that everyone else had to follow. They were able to get huge amounts of benefits without paying their fair share of taxes.”
Tweet posted by Gov. Ron DeSantis:
I signed legislation to end Disney’s self-governing status, placed the area in state receivership, and appointed 5 members to a state control board.
Disney no longer has its own government, will live under the same laws as everyone else and pay its debts and fair share of taxes. pic.twitter.com/5JnZmEjSdv
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) February 27, 2023
According to DeSantis, Disney will no longer have its own government but the vision entails ensuring that state laws are applied, debts are paid and that their fair share of taxes are paid. He adds that he has asked also asked the board to look at the compensation for the first responders, “and give them more compensation for doing a good job.”
“We have people that want to see Disney be what Walt envisioned,” DeSantis said.
Disney has yet to comment.
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